doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion Classic & Custom Single Barreled Sporting Rifles @ doublegunshop.com Old rifles still work

I just got back from a hunting trip that has been 50 yrs in the making. Perhaps it is a little out of place on this list but it is,nonetheless, what I would call a classic single barreled sporting rifle


The load was 68 grs of Swiss 1.5 f and my own lube and a paper patched bullet of my own design. The rifle is a Ballard Pacific (#5) original, circa 1880.



This type of hunt is pretty hard on rifles and certainly, this one acquired additional, but honestly earned, "patina".

BTW, moose tastes better than any other member of the deer family that I've ever eaten (which includes all of them in NA except caribou)

This thread sure as hell belongs here! Well done and congratulations. What cartridge is your Ballard chambered for?

Great photos from a outstanding hunt with a Ballard. I have wanted to try a hunt using one of mine.
Tell us more about the hunt, when,where, why and how!Details!

Richard

I just posted a longer version of the hunt here http://bpcr.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=7311

But the rifle is a .45-70. I used a paper patched bullet of my own design and black powder.

The hunt was in the Yukon River Delta about 150 miles north of Bethel Alaska. We were flown in on a 1957 de Havilland Beaver, so even the transport was "classic". I always wanted to ride in one of those and now I finally have. I just got back on Wednesday.

This was a drop hunt so me and a hunting partner were left on a small oxbow lake on the delta to hunt for 11 days. It was an amazingly good time. We both got our moose and we both managed to survive getting them out of the bush, a very nontrivial experience.

Brent

Very nice pictures. There is something to say about simplicity & reliability of good quality single shot. My 1959 Winchester Model 70 isn't even a single shot. While very little used by previous owner the bolt will not pick up a round from fully loaded magazine, but simply slides over the top. So much for the legendary pre-64 Model 70.

Brent,

Just viewed your excellent write up on the BPCR site. What a fun hunt and at the same time tough getting those Moose skinned, quartered and carted out! The old Pacific didn't take long to rust in that rain, but now that you are back home and cleaning it, you will be reminded of all the details of the hunt. So in the 10 day hunt it looks like you only needed about three or four days to get both of the Moose and most of that time was used to field dress them. Did you stay for the rest of time allotted?
We vacationed in Alaska last year in August and what a beautiful and intriguing state. The abundance of wildlife and the breathtaking scenery is overwhelming. Congratulations on a great hunt and thanks for sharing it with us.
Richard

Great post; great rifle!

It's easy to forget the difference between "killin' meat" and "makin' meat" until the "meat" is a moose or an elk! Heavy haulin'!

Thanks for the write up and pictures. Maybe think about documenting working up your favorite loads. Maybe get a picture of a new freckle the rifle picked up from the hunt, and somehow save the notes with the rifle.

Some of these old rifles and guns will be around long after we're gone. If only they could talk. Hope you have a grandkid that'll take it on their dream hunt fifty years from now.

Great stuff!

Hello Brent,
Excellent result, I hope you ordered an extra large freezer before leaving for home Lol.

Harry.